How to Register with ODS

Types of academic accommodations include but are not limited to:

• Extended time on examinations
• Reduced distraction environment for testing
• Note-taking assistance
• Alternative format text
• Assistive technology
• Special Groups (Early) Registration for classes
• Preferential seating in the classroom

Documentation is recommended to include relevant information from external sources can help to substantiate the presence of a disability and the need for accommodations. This information should provide evidence of the functional limitations of the disability and their impact on the student’s life. Criteria for the source, scope, and content of documentation differ by disability type. 

Documentation may include assessments, reports, and/or letters from qualified health care providers, psychologists, or diagnosticians, and/or information from a previous school (e.g., 504 plan, IEP, or ARD documents). In order to ensure an objective assessment, the professional completing the evaluation must be an impartial individual who is not related to the student.

Students may provide a Disability Summary Report Form to be completed and signed by a qualified healthcare professional. The Office of Disability Services asks qualified healthcare professionals to fax the completed form to the Office of Disability Services at 512.245.3452.

1. Securely submit an Emotional Support Animal Information Form completed by a mental health care provider. 
2. Securely provide documentation from a veterinarian stating that the animal is in good health and up-to-date on its vaccinations.

Please Note: If an ESA is approved, then the ODS will provide a notification of approval to TXST’s department of Housing and Residential Life (HRL). You will need to meet with a HRL representative before bringing your ESA into on-campus university housing.

While your documentation may indicate a need for an ESA, certain animals may not be suitable for on-campus university housing (e.g., reptiles). If an ESA is not approved or additional documentation is needed, then the ODS will notify you via email. 

Documentation must be relevant to the housing request. It is recommended to include relevant information from external sources can help to substantiate the presence of a disability and the need for their housing accommodation request. 

This information should provide evidence of the functional limitations of the disability and their impact on the student’s life on-campus. Criteria for the source, scope, and content of documentation differ by disability type. 

Documentation may include assessments, reports, and/or letters from qualified health care providers, psychologists, or diagnosticians. In order to ensure an objective assessment, the professional completing the evaluation must be an impartial individual who is not related to the student.

Students may provide a Disability Summary Report Form to be completed and signed by a qualified healthcare professional. The Office of Disability Services asks qualified healthcare professionals to fax the completed form to the Office of Disability Services at 512.245.3452.

Types of accommodations for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students include but are not limited to:

• Sign language interpreting services
• Captioning (speech-to-text) services

The criteria used by the ODS to determine if interpreting or real time captioning services is a reasonable accommodation for an individual student may include but is not limited to:

1. It is required to provide results of the student’s audiological evaluation documenting the nature and severity of the hearing loss in order to receive services,
2. Age of onset of the student’s hearing loss and type of loss,
3. The student’s ability to benefit from accommodations such as preferential seating and amplification with an FM system,
4. The student’s previous experience using sign language or oral interpreters.
5. The student’s English literacy skills. For captioning services, English proficiency should be sufficient to allow for reading and comprehension of the captioned text of the lecture.